May 2024 Leader Letter

A Milestone Event! — During this year’s convention, you can join past leaders as they discuss our extraordinary history, visit the Toastmasters Through the Years Exhibit, take part in an Eras of Exercise Smedley Fund activity, attend a President’s celebration with a 1920s theme, and so much more. For those who can’t be there in person, an online/livestream option is now available. Register now.

April Renewal Dues Still Accepted — It’s not too late to submit dues payments to keep your club in good standing. If you have questions, refer to the Renewal Dues FAQ, email renewals@toastmasters.org, or call the Club Quality and Member Support Team at +1 720-439-5050, from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday–Friday. Payments for the next renewal period are also being accepted through Club Central, or members of Self-Pay enabled clubs can submit their own dues online.

Increase Membership for the Distinguished Club Program — The last day to add members for the 2023–2024 program year is June 30, 2024. To be eligible for recognition in the Distinguished Club Program, your club must earn at least five goals throughout the program year and have either 20 members or a net growth of at least five new, dual, or reinstating members as of June 30. If your club wants to add those extra members, try hosting an open house or demo meeting or conducting a Speechcraft event.

California Clubs Tax Reminder — It's time to file your 199N California e-Postcard with the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) for the 2023 tax year (January 1 to December 31). As California non-profit entities, clubs (including corporate clubs) are required to file a 199N electronically by May 15, 2024.

Grow Your Club — A great way to add new members to your club is by participating in the Beat the Clock membership-building program, which features the opportunity to earn a special ribbon and qualify for 10% off your next club order. To qualify, your club must add five new, dual, or reinstated members for May or June and pay their membership dues by June 30.

Time for Club Officer Elections! — Club officer elections can now be held for officers taking over on July 1. Find information about the election process and Club Leadership Committee procedure in the Club Leadership Handbook and the Club Election Videos. After the election, your Club Secretary will need to submit the revised officer list in Club Central by June 30 to receive Distinguished Club Program credit. If you struggle to find volunteers, share the Role Summary for each club officer position with potential leaders.

Use Updated Resources — To ensure you are using the most up-to-date version of resources, utilize the Resource Library to download the files you need. Using the latest version of items like the Membership Application for existing clubs and the Charter Membership and Club Officer Information for chartering clubs will help your club add new members without issue.

Is Your Club in Good Standing? — Find out on the Daily Reports – April Dues Renewal Status page by selecting your club’s District. Then, ensure your club is listed as Verified Complete. Refer to the Club Status Guide to determine how a club’s status affects different features and areas of the Toastmasters program. Should there be a discrepancy, contact the Club Quality and Member Support Team at +1 720-439-5050, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday–Friday, or email renewals@toastmasters.org.

Kind vs. Nice Communication — The purpose of feedback, in Toastmasters and beyond, is to help somebody understand where they are and how they can improve. Learn how to deliver an evaluation that’s both effective and considerate.

Sharing Our Cultural Diversity — Hear from a member in India about how her club shares customs and traditions to help make their Toastmasters’ community a more inclusive and culturally enriched space.

The Keys to a Confident Voice! — Confidence is not an exclusive trait, but a skill accessible to all, and with the right tools, you can harness it when it truly matters. In this article, a voice coach unpacks the voice-confidence link and unveils answers that may surprise you with their simplicity.

A Look Back at the Golden Gavel Award — An array of illustrious figures have received the honor over the years—you might recognize some names and faces. You can also get to know 2024 Golden Gavel recipient, Lisa Sun, in this exclusive Toastmaster profile.

Tune In! Reading the Toastmaster Aloud — In this episode of The Toastmasters Podcast, Distinguished Toastmasters Dorothy Chanakira and Viola Dondo, both from Zimbabwe, discuss their passion for Toastmasters, learning, and reading and how they’ve established an online group where participants read articles from the Toastmaster magazine together.

Connect and Inspire Through Storytelling Webinar — Did you miss this insightful joint webinar with Rotary International? Watch the recording and share it with others who may benefit.

Share Your Centennial Snaps — Every month this year, Toastmasters is introducing a new “100 photos” social media theme to celebrate our centennial. May's theme is all about highlighting District conferences! Join the celebration by tagging Toastmasters in photos you share of networking, keynote speakers, venues, or moments with your fellow members at the conference. Follow the fun by using and following the #toastmasters and #Toastmasters100Years hashtags.

Revitalize With the Club Coach Program — If your club has 12 or fewer members, you are eligible for an experienced Toastmaster or two to help with strategies to increase membership and master your club meetings. Reach out to your District leaders about the Club Coach Program. For questions about the program, or if your club is not in a District, please contact clubcoach@toastmasters.org.

Distinguished Toastmaster Award (DTM) Submissions — Applications for the DTM award must be submitted to Education Services (educationprogram@toastmasters.org) for processing; they cannot be processed in Club Central. Submissions for the 2024-2025 program year will not be processed until the current program year has been finalized.

Emailing World Headquarters — When you contact us at World Headquarters, we respond to emails as quickly as possible in the order they are received; you will initially receive an automatic reply. One way to streamline email contacts for prompt service is to avoid including multiple World Headquarters email addresses in the same communication, as it may be categorized as spam or result in a reply not reaching you.

Zoom Discount Code — Is your club using Zoom to conduct online meetings? You may want to request a discount code for 50% off your plan. If your Club President hasn't already received a code, send an email to clubquality@toastmasters.org. If you already have your code or have questions about this program, please visit Zoom Discount FAQ.